Mumbai: The probe into the Malegaon blasts is now revealing new links to saffron terror every day and investigators claim that the hard-line Hindu groups have been involved in several other such blasts in the recent past.
On Wednesday, the spreading stain of saffron terror reached Uttar Pradesh with the arrest of Dayanand Pandey by the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad from Kanpur.
Pandey is a self styled shankaracharya (religious guru) who ran an ashram in Jammu. The ATS alleges he was directly involved in the Malegaon blasts. Sources indicate that Pandey organised a training camp for hard-line Hindutva activists in Pune's Sinhagarh in 2003.
Investigators say Pandey was arrested after disclosures by Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Purohit, both of whom are under arrest.
“Pandey was with the group that was held earlier. He attended meetings with them. He had a major role in Malegaon blasts,” said Mumbai Anti-terrorism Squad Chief, Hemant Karkare.
Police sources say they also have proof of a direct link between Purohit and Pandey: a CD recovered from Purohit had pictures and speeches made by Pandey and that the two, along with the Sadhvi met to plan the Malegaon blasts.
Maharashtra ATS will now move for permission to take Pandey to Mumbai for further questioning. UP Police indicate there could be more arrests from the state. They had also detained Pandey's chartered accountant for questioning in Jammu.
Meanwhile, the Aurangabad court has allowed Maharashtra ATS to take one of Malegaon accused, Rakesh Dhawade, into police custody.
Police investigators reportedly want to probe the linkages between the Malegaon accused and their involvement in the 2004 Jalna and 2006 Nanded blasts.
CBI investigators probing the Nanded blasts have indicated that they will also widen the ambit of their investigations because of the possible involvement of the same groups behind the Nanded and Malegaon blasts.(With inputs from V K Shashikumar)
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